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Tuesday, 29 November 2011

I'd stumbled across the Crafter's Digital Art Center Progressive Challenge a couple of months ago. I though I'd challenge myself to make cards to meet a given purpose, rather than purely making cards because I need them for an occasion. The first challenge in the current series is underway, and you have until 30th November to get your entry in. This is mine:

My base card is 300gsm Centura Pearl card from Crafter's Companion in Red which I have folded into a Joy Fold Card, or J-Card. I just love the Centura Pearl for its sheen (even under an electric light source) and its pure luxury! I used Beate's tutorial on Split Coast Stampers to make my card - it was really easy to follow. I used my Boxer Board to go with my Ultimate Pro (Crafter's Companion) so I could measure, score and fold in inches, and I managed to produce the card in next to no time! I'll certainly be using this fold again.

The apple digi-stamp is part of the challenge, and was donated to the challenge by Heart Songs Designs. I coloured this lovely image with my Spectrum Noirs from Crafter's Companion in the following colours:

I completed my card by adding word art (made into a designer paper) and a backing paper from Create with TLC. Both the apples word montage (which I recoloured in olive green to tie in with my card) and the apple design paper were freebies from the wonderfully talented and exceedingly generous Paulette.

I have deliberately chosen to leave a sentiment off this card at the moment ... as I have no idea who the recipient will be and why! :o) However, when I do add this, it will be in the form of a small circular element which I will use to slide the top card under so the whole thing stays shut.

If you want to join in with this challenge, just head over to the Crafter's Digital Art Center, join the Progressive Challenge Group and you can pick up your free images too.

I hope you like this card, which I would like to enter for the following challenge:

Wednesday, 23 November 2011

My eldest came home from school last night and said it was her friend's birthday; could I do a card? Luckily I had this topper sat ready to mount on a card, so I quickly finished this card off. I apologise for the poor quality of the photos, but they were taken in great haste before school this morning (and it was quite foggy here so the light levels were not brilliant!).

My base card is 300gsm Centura Pearl in White, available from Crafter's Companion, which I folded to make a 6 inch square card base. The digital image on the topper is "Lenny Cupcakes 2" available from Stamp Fairy. This was the image I won from Karen in July, when the Stamp Fairies organised a Blog Hop to celebrate Gerda's birthday. Thank you Karen :o) !!!!!! It is mounted onto a digital paper from the set Urbanized 2 by Heather Jolly's Digital Scrapping. I've just tried to link to the site from this post but I get a message saying the blog has been removed :o( I do hope this is just a blogger error, because Heather had some stunning sets on her blog available for download. The "Happy Birthday" ticket is a freebie from Stamp Fairy. The red organza ribbon came from my stash (it was bought from Hobbycraft) and was tied into a little bow using the bow maker on my Ultimate Pro (from Crafter's Companion).

I used my Spectrum Noirs (Crafter's Companion) in the following colours to ﻿bring Lenny and his little friend to life:

Lenny

Fur: 96, 91, 98

Nose: 120

Paws: 33

Hat: 84, 82, 81

Friend

Fur: 104, 100, 92

Nose: 120

Paws: 33

Balloon: 12, 14, 11

Cupcake

Case: 171, 68

Icing: 137, 8

Cherry: 15, 48

I embossed the coloured image and my backing paper using the 2 largest sizes of circular 'nests' on the Ultimate Pro Embossing Board "Springtime Sweets and Cupcake Treats" and cut these out so they could be layered. Before I did this I sprayed (quite liberally :D!) my coloured design with Iridescent Spray and Shine (Crafter's Companion again! lol!), although this layer of glitter really doesn't show up terribly well in the photo above - sorry :o(

Sunday, 20 November 2011

Given the temperatures we've got in the south of the UK at the moment, snow is definitely wishful thinking! But maybe my latest project will help you cool down a little. :o) I've made this gorgeous little Gift Tag for the present I'm buying for my office "Secret Santa" lucky dip.

My base card is from Kraft card, which was actually a pre-made card blank purchased from Hobbycraft. I chose the tag shape on the Teddy Surprise and Butterflies Embossing Board together with my Ultimate Pro (both from Crafter's Companion) and embossed the largest size and it's border onto my Kraft card. I then embossed the border size onto my Mat and Layer card. For this I used a sheet of Centura Pearl 300gsm card in the shade Christmas Red. This came from the Christmas pack which is available from Crafter's Companion. I just love the pearly sheen on this card, so I decided not to use any extra backing papers.

This lovely snowman is a Digi Stamp which was one of the goodies in Paulette's Create with TLC December Club . Unfortunately this offer has now finished, but I can thoroughly recommend following Paulette's blog and signing up for this club next autumn. I used my Spectrum Noir Pens (from Crafter's Companion) in the following colours to bring my snowman to life:

Hat - 96,91,48

Nose - 24

Scarf - 14,11

Jacket - 48,43

Star - 34

Outline - CG1

I then cut carefully around my image and mounted it onto the red card using sticky pads. My TOP TIP here is to cut in an anti-clockwise direction if you're right handed (clockwise for left handers) and then you can always see the border/line you're cutting out. This will minimise the risk of cutting the wrong part of your image!

My sentiment is another digi-goodie from the Create with TLC December Club which I sized to go with my tag and the ribbon is beautiful double satin called Holiday Green - this came from Fantastic Ribbons and was part of Annette's Birthday Blog Candy which I won last month. Thanks Annette! :o) I mounted the sentiment onto the ribbon so it will swing and then used the bow maker part of my Ultimate Pro to make the gorgeous little bow, which I then fixed to the ribbon above the sentiment. I completed my project by tying a further length of the ribbon through a hole which I had punched in the top of the gift tag.

Wednesday, 16 November 2011

Why am I so excited? Because I've just received an e-mail from Jenn at Craft Your Passion Challenges inviting me to be a Guest Design Team Member for their Holiday Havoc Blog Hop on 17th and 18th December 2011. :o) - BIG smiles here!!!!

I can't tell you anything else about it just yet, but please put these dates in your diary and watch this space!

Tuesday, 8 November 2011

I'm on a roll this week with my second blog post in 3 days ... but this is only because my blogging can't keep up with my card making! ROFL :o) Do you remember my post about my first easel card which was accepting the invitation to my brother's Wedding Celebrations? This is the card I made for him and his new wife, who got married in Cyprus during October.

My base card is a Centura Pearl 300gsm card (slightly lighter than the Blackcurrant shade)﻿ which I bought at Hobbycraft. I used 2 sheets of card to make an 8 inch square card base, and a triangular side to the card. The sentiment is one I made using the word processing package on my computer. I used one of the embossing shapes on my Ultimate Pro in the right angled corner of the triangle to add detail, and finished the front of the card with 3 gems from my french stash.

The sentiment comes from set called "Simply Put", by Paulette of Create with TLC. You can find her store here. I imported this piece of word art into my word processing package and resized it so that it fitted in a triangular insert for the card.

This lovely image is also one of Paulette's. It's one of her vintage pictures and is called "Happy Dance" and was a freebie in September. If you haven't discovered Paulette's blog yet, you simply must as she shares a great piece of Word Art for free (and in return for plenty of blog love) every day, and sometimes she shares other goodies with her followers too!

I added a floral sequin in pearlescent pink as a detail to the bride's hair, and finished the card off by adding a bow made with white satin edged, organza ribbon and 3 more gems.

Paulette has been kind enough to showcase my card on one of her "Creations" posts - click here to see the wonderful projects made by my fellow 'Creators' . I would also like to enter this card into the following challenge:

Sunday, 6 November 2011

My base card is 300gsm Centura Pearl in Blackcurrant from the Crafter's Companion Darks pack which I folded into a 6 inch square card with the coloured card inside. I then folded one half back on itself so that the lovely rich coloured card can be seen!

The sentiment on this front part of the card is one I genereated using my computer's word processing package - the font is Kristen ITC. The ribbon is a satin edged organza ribbon which I tied into a lovely bow using the bow-maker on my Ultimate Crafter's Companion. The gems at the bottom came from the bumper bag I bought whilst on holiday in France.

The sentiment comes from a package called "Simply Put" which is sold by the wonderfully talented Paulette at Create with TLC. The image of a bride and groom came from Papercraft Inspirations and was coloured using my Spectrum Noir Pens from Crafter's Companion. The bride's bouquet had been intentionally left blank for crafters to embellish as they pleased. I chose to add pink sequins to the bouquet, and also small pink flower sequins to some of the larger flowers on her dress and those tumbling around the happy couple. These also give the card some depth as well.

All my pieces of white card were treated to a glittery coating of Iridescent Spray and Shine (Crafter's Companion) before they were fixed to my card base.

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:
* Challenge #82 BINGO at Craft your Passion - a diagonal of Flowers (sequin embellishments), Free Square (ribbon and/or glitter) and Bling (gems)
* Anything Goes (plus a bit of bling if you want) at Papertake Weekly

I would like to apologise firstly for the poor quality of the photos but they were taken in holiday accomodation which didn't have the best light and also for not adding links into this post - I've been tweaking with my blog layout and have obviously done something rather silly!

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About Me

Hi. I'm Helen, a 40-something married Mum of 2, and have been "crafty" as long as I can remember! One of my earliest crafting memories is of my Nan helping me to knit clothes for my Barbie.
I started card-making in April 2011, and this takes up most of my craft time ... I think it's safe to say it's very addictive! When I get the chance I also enjoy cross stitching and, when time allows, dressmaking and lace making. I am a leader at my church's Sunday Club and I've just discovered digital scrapbooking, so I'm helping my youngest preserve her memories from her latest school trip!
Thanks for visiting my blog - I hope you enjoy my creations.
x

The "small" print!

I try to provide links to the materials I've used on my creations which are correct at the time of posting. Unfortunately, over time items go out of stock and websites are closed down. I apologise for any incovenience this may cause.

I hope you enjoy looking at my creations and that I inspire you, but please respect my work and that of the artists who designed the images - please do not copy my designs or claim them as your own if entering competitions or challenges!